Tour Background
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The city of Chelsea has a long history as an immigrant hub and hometown. Incorporated in 1739, the city originally served as a resort town for Wealthy Bostonians to escape the metropolis just across the river. However, in the mid 19th century, Chelsea’s waterfront industrialized and became home to thriving wooden ship, oil, and paint and varnish industries. These industries attracted immigrant laborers from Ireland and French Canada. Later, second wave immigrants from Eastern Europe found a home and employment in Chelsea’s manufacturing economy. After World War I, Chelsea was home to the largest Jewish population in Massachusetts outside of Boston proper. Through the 1950’s Chelsea remained a largely Jewish neighborhood, however, as industries began to move outside of the city and the Mystic River Bridge was constructed which sliced the city in half, the city suffered a cultural decline and many of the established Jewish residents relocated to Brookline, Swampscott, and Marblehead.
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This outmigration left Chelsea’s existing industries with little option for employment, so businesses began recruiting labor from Puerto Rico. By the 1970’s, more than 1600 Puerto Ricans had migrated to Chelsea. This trend continued as refugees fled from El Salvador, Guatemala, and Cuba to escape political violence and civil wars. By 1980, Hispanics/Latino’s made up 14% of the population in Chelsea and by the early 2000’s it became a majority Hispanic/Latino community.
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Today, the city of Chelsea houses the largest percentage of foreign-born residents in the state: 46%. Some work in local industries such as Kayem Foods or the New England Produce Center, while others commute to Boston just across the river for employment. However, many immigrants are entrepreneurs and business owners running restaurants and shops that cater to the immigrant population. A walk down main street will reveal Central American cuisine, corner stores, retail markets, and office industries all supported by the immigrant population. The city itself is decorated with murals and statues that celebrate the merging of cultures. Our tour aims to highlight these celebrations, local businesses, art exhibitions, and organizations that support the immigrant community.
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Chelsea, Massachusetts is a city whose small businesses, labor industries, landscape, public art, community centers, and people have fluctuated to align with immigration trends. This fluctuation had led to a mixture of cultures, all being celebrated in different aspects across the city. Since 1965, Chelsea’s population has experienced an influx of Hispanic/Latino immigrants, with the majority traveling from Central America. The celebration of Hispanic/Latino culture can be seen through businesses, restaurants, community centers, industries, and public art. In addition, the stops across our walking tour celebrate strength, resilience, and collaboration across Hispanic/Latino nationalities during times of crisis, locally or abroad.
